Motor sleigh



s. R. SMITH. MOTOR SLE GH.

Jan." 9,- 1923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 nvm/70H @QQ Smil v Armen/HS Fatented dan. 9, 1923.

aura- .usas

Moron staren.

Application inea :any-2e, 1920. serial No. 399,707.

To all w from t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GILBERT R. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a `resident of Kilgore, in the county of Clark and State of Idaho, have invented a new and mproved Motor Sleigh, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

rEhe invention relates to improvements in motor sleighs, an object of the i invention being to provide a sleigh in the form of an airplane which is propelled by an engine, the puller type of propeller being` mounted on the forward end of the sleigh to propel the same. The invention relates particularly to the construction ofthe body portion and supporting frame-work of the sleigh, a further object being to provide a shock absorber mechanism in connection with the body sup` porting frame so thatthe sleigh will ride easily. f A further object `is to provide a device of this type which will make fast time over any kind of snow whether it be well packed,

soft or crusted. A further object is to provide a motor sleigh with an improved construction of steering `means and brake mechanism and one which will be both comfortable and safe 'to travel in, which will be relatively light in weight and yet strong, durable and practical in use.

A further object is tofprovide a motor sleigh which is especially adapted for carrying. mail or supplies over landin sections where it is now necessary to use dog teams or similar transportation means vin winter. lWith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel `features of construction and combinations and arragements of parts which will bemore fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. 4

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofniy im roved motor sleigh.

Fig.. 2 is a view in transverse section on the line 2 2 of Figure `1. f

Fig. 3 is 1a fragmentary top plan view of a part of the steering mechanism taken ou the line 3 3 of Figure 1, Fig. 4 `is a view `in transverse section on the line 4 4 ofFigure 1.

Fig. 5 is a view in section on the line 5 5 of Figure 4. i

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view 1n vertice section on the line 6 6 of Figure 1. Y

clearly in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view partly in section of the brake mechanism.

F ig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view.

Fig. 10 is a view in front elevation.

Fig. 11 is a view in transverse section on the` line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Fig. 12`is a fragmentary view in transverse section of one side of the body frame on the line 12 12 of Figure 1.

Fig. 13 is a view in transverse section through the rudder.

Referring in detail tothe drawings, the vehicle comprises a body portion simulatingl the fuselage of an airplane supported at its forward end on a pair of runners 2 and at itsrear end on a second pair of runners 3. A hood 4 is formed atthe forward end of the body portion and is adapted to enclose any preferred type of airplane engine. A propeller' 5 is mounted lin front of the hood 4, onv a drive shaft 6,'which projects forwardly through the radiator 7 of the engine. The runners 2 are relatively wide as shown rlhe'se runners are forwardly bowed at their front ends and slight-ly upturned at their rear ends. A thin strip 8 of wood or other suitable material is secured to the under face ofthe runners 2, and a metal shoe `9'is provided on the under `face of the strip.

Blocks 1() are bolted tothe runners 2 and have slots 11 therein registering with slots 12 in the runners for the accommodation of the brakel mechanism which will be de# scribed hereinafter. A pair of tubular supports 13 have their lower ends flattened and secured together in each of the slots 11 by means of a tubular bolt 14 extending through the block 10 and receiving nuts 15l at each side of theblock.

rlwo pairs of outwardly bowed tubular supports 16 and 16l are secured to the sides of the forwardend ofthe framework of the body portion 1. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the lower kends of the supports 16 and 16 and the upper ends ofthe tubular supports 13 are internally screw-threaded to receive `the threaded ends of coupling members 17. One of these coupling :members is bifurcated as shown atV 18, and the other coupling member is `provided with a tongue 19 fitting withyin the bifurcationand secured therein by a bolt 2O. `The members 16y are pivotally seeuredtothe bodyas shown at 21, while the the rear end.

members 16 have rigid connection therewith. A transverse brace 22 secures togetherl the coupling members 17 and diagonal braces 23 connect the members 16 to opposite sides of the body of the framework. The supporting members 16 and.13 thus form a pair of toggle levers which are connected to the braces 23 by means of springs 24. The springs 24 are coiled and have one end secured in a staple or other securing device 25 in the central portion of the braces 23 and their other ends secured to the rear tubular members. Y These springs form shock absorbers for the vehicle. rlChe springs 24 at all times exert a forward pull on the rear tubular members 13 as will be understood, and it is necessary to provide cushioning blocks 26 under the body portion to limit the forward movement of the rear members 16.

The body portion 1 of the vehicle is inclined, the forward end being higher than The body portion is rectangular in cross section yand tapers toward its rear end. It is comprised of a pair of longitudinal bars 27, preferably of angle, iron, and uprights 28 secure the bars 27 to longitudinal bars 29 above the same. Cross pieces 30 secure the side bars together, and wires or braces 31 may also be employed to strengthen the framework.

A compartment 32 isy formed in the body of the vehicle, seats 33 being located in this compartu'ient on flooring 34 laid between the bars 27 in this portion of the body. The sides of the body are covered with canvas 35 from the hood back, and the top and bottom thereof may also be covered with `can-vas` from the compartment 32 rearwardly. Fig. 12 illustrates one way to secure the canvas to the sides of the body. The canvas is wrapped around the bars 29, then brought down and wrapped around the board 36 which is securely bolted beween the angle iron bars 27 and a board 37 which supports the flooring 34.

A partition 38 separates the compartment 32 from the engine, and inclined braces 39 extend from the end of the bars 29, which terminate at the partition 33, to the forward end of the bars 27, these braces 39 passing along the outside of the hood4.

I provide a pair of brakes 40, which are precisely alike and hence a description hereinafter of one will apply to both. Each of the forward runners 2 carries a brake shoe 40, which is located in the slot 11 of the block 10, and which operates downwardly through alined slots in the runners 2 and at its forward end is pivoted on a pin 41 in the forward end of the slot 11.` This shoe 40 is pivotally connected to a brake Alever 42, the latter fulcrumed on apin 43 in the slot 11. A coil spring 44 secured vto an eye 45 in the block 10 and to the end of the lever 42, lirmally exerts pressure on the lever to hold the brake shoe 40 off the ground. A,

flexible connecting device 46 is secured to the lend of the brake lever 42, passed around grooved pulleys 47 secured to the forward tubular supports 13 and 16 by means of angle brackets 43, thence around a grooved pulley 49 on the bar 27, and then secured to an operating lever 50 in the compartment 32. The lever 50 is fulcrumed on an angle bracket 51 secured inthe flooring of the compartment 42 and may be locked in any desired `position in a notched sector bar 52.v

It is to be understood that two of these brake operating mechanisms are provided, each having a separately controlled lever and sector bar 52. The supporting frame for the rear end the body 1 comprises va pair of blocks se cured to each runner 3. Blocks 54 are bolted to the blocks 53 and angle blocks 55 are pivotallyl mounted on the blocks 54. VV- shaped supporting braces 56 are bolted to the blocks 55. Longitudinal bars 57 connect the ends of these braces 56 and the body 1 is supported on a cross piece 53 connecting the rear ends of the bars 57 and on a leaf spring 60 connecting the forward ends of these bars. v 62 may also be used to strengthen `the rear framework,` as shown clearly `in Figs. `1 and 11. i

The construction above described of the Brackets 61 and diagonal braces ,Y v

braces 56, the bars 57 and 58, the spring'60,

the bracket 6l, and the braces 62,.for1ns a supporting truck for the rear of the vehicle, which truck 1s pivotally mounted on the runners 3 and allows independent movement of runners 3 passing over unusual bumps or obstructions inthe snow. and to permit slight rearward movement of the lower end of the rod 64 and of the link' 65 upon turning of the rear runners. A. transversely extending lever 69 is secured to the rod 64 within thc body 1, and has :its ends projecting through openings 70 in the canvas covering o' the body. i

. rudder 71 is secured above the rear vend of the body on a tubular rod 72, which is mounted in bearings r73 in the body. The rudder 71 comprises a piece of canvas 74 secured between two substantially ovalshaped wooden frames 75, as shown in Fig.

13. Fgpl also illustrates a convenient way A in. a l` riircated block 76 is secured in the up- `means oi: bolts 77. iliflever `Z8 ,similar-to the leerer (if) is providedon the rod, 72. Flex. ible connecting` devices82` connect theends oitthe levers @und "3T with thefends of f iioot-.oi'aerated steering` bar T9 mounted 'inthe compartment 32? between vthe brake Control legversfO, on a. beaiiing'SO secured to the f door of the com aartinent. `The steerino' bar obviate. any danger of the sleigh turning.

79 is provided with pedals 81 adjacent each` end thereol to accommodate the feet of the operator. lBetween the steering-bar T9 and the lever G9, the flexible connecting; devices pass through openings: in the canvas walls of the compartment 32. i

lt is of course `to bc understood that the lrudder 7l' and the runners 3 are .steered si"` multaneously by movement or' the steering b ar 79.- The wind `on the `rudder aids mate` rially in steering' the device and either of the bralresinaybe employed in addition to the steeringinechanism when it is desired to make a sudden turn. The springs in the supporting frames ofthe device cause it to i rideeasily, the wide runners adapt it for use with any kind of snow,r and the distance which thev forward runners are spaced apart lWhile I have illustrated the preferred embodimentl of the sleigh, it is apparent that various slight changes and alterations might be made `iii the general iormk of the parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the` precise details set forth but consider myself at liberty toinake such changes andl alterations asv fairly fall withink the" vspirit and scope of thev appended claims.

What is claimed is:

y l. A sleigh comprising an elongatedbody, a pair of runners at botliends of the body,"

cushion frames interposed between the body and the runners, said body having a compartinenttherein, bloclrssecured to the for,-v

ward runners and having slots therein, said 'forward runners having slotstherein regis" tering` with the slots 'in the blocks, ground brakes located iu'said slots`r said brakes comprisme; brake shoes operating` in the alined slots bralreflevers ulcrumed in said slots and pivotally connected tosaid shoes, coilr springs 4normally holding the brake shoes `in theslots, operatinglevers in said comparti-- ment, `flexible devices oonnecting said operating` levers and brake levers, and :notched sector bars in ythe compartment controlling l the position oi said `operating levers.

Q, A sleigh confiprising an elongated body, a pair of runners at both ends of the body,

cushion frames interposed between the body,`

andthe runners, a cross piece connecting the it the rod 72, and ther-,ridder 7l vtheir ser'zuigcd io- 4thebiiluizcatedi portionby,`

` andthe runners, a forward frame compi- Yand the runners. blocks on runners, means connecting said bloelrs and iiorwarifl eudsbjf ,the rear runners, bearinos secured to the bod atribua:

j 1U A l i mounted in the bearings and v-udine' below the bodya linlrcoiinectingr said rod and y.cross piece, a steering); .lever on `said rod, a

`siniilarly mounted rod ysecured in the body and supporting' a rudder on ,the rear endoi3 f the bodya steering leveren said last-meri- M tioned rod, and meansI lfor vsiniultaneously operating' both or said levers`.z

3. Asleigh. comprising; an elencati-uil body,

a pair of runners at both endsor the body,

cushion frames `interposed between the boiily `and the runners, a cross piece connectingthe' forward ends of the rearrunners, alined bearings secured to the body, a tubular rod mounted. inthe `bearings and extending bei low the body, a link connecting` said rod andl cross piece, a steering lever on said: rod, a g

similarly mounted rod secured in the body and supporting a ,rudder on 'the rear end or the body, a steeringV lever on said last-men.-

tioned rod, a pedal "operated steering,haii` mounted in the body, eXible devices' connecting the steeringbar with yboth oilsaid levers, `whereby a movement `of the steering bar turns the rear runners and rudder Isi` multaneouslyin thesame direction.` f

t. A sleigh comprising; an elongated ciiishion trames interposed between the'bodf ing a pair oi? outwardly bowed tubular mem` bers rigidly- Secured to -thefi'orward end of the body, another pair of outwardly bowed tubular members `pivotally secured to the, body, blocks secured to the forward runners body;` a pair oi? runners at both ends of the body, j

having` slots thereimand two pairs ot supl ports having' their ends located in said slots and connected to both pairs oi bowed tubullar members. i

bers rigidly secured tothe forward. end of` the body, another pair oi? outwardly bowed tubular members pivotally secured to the` body, blocks secured to the forwz `rd]runners having` slots therein, two pairs on supports having,` theiieiids located in. said slots, tieni j,

braces connecting; the vforward pair coiipling members to the body coil. @soonA l i a l Y nectino` said braces to the rear pair oi; wou-iV plingmembers, and cushion, blocliis the pivoted tubular members;`

6. Aisleighcomprising` an elongatedbody, i

a pairof runners at both ends ot the body` Y i i uderj vthe body limiting,` the il'orward moven'ient of i i io iis blecouplinginembers,co ne' said' sup y f kports and `bowed tubulai neirioers, diagonal cushion frames interposed between the body each rof the rear i' isc 'Supported `the1fe(m,' :ingle "bioeks i j iivoiznliy Seeiiredv u pon Said means,r said rear 'supg'ioin .edY on the 'angle 4blocks' and supporting the a -pfiir of runners atboihj ends of thelbody,

cushion frames iitexfposedbetweelithe body andthe-runners,blocks ori'e'aohyofthevreavr i"uiinets',k meanscoimeoting said] blocksl and supported thereon, angle blocks plvotziliy setunng said rear runners" indepeiidently of the truck, saidbody having yao'oDepartment operatingthesteering gear. 1 v GILBERT ROSCOE SMITH. j

therein',V and means in said compartment for 20 

